The Consumers Association of Penang lauds the move mooted by Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai that with effect from January 2010, a minimum price will be fixed for a 20-sticks pack of cigarettes at RM6.20. However, it is disappointing to note that the price fixed is so low that this will be a futile move if the government is really serious about addressing the fight against the growing smoking epidemic. In a recent survey carried out by CAP, we fo ... Jump to full article >>

Lawmakers say a smoking ban St. Louis voters approved yesterday could lead to a ban statewide. Christine Slusser reports. The new smoking ban takes affect in certain indoor public places in St. Louis County. The new ban may give momentum toward a statewide smoking ban. Jefferson County Democratic Representative Jeff Roorda says St. Louis has a huge impact on statewide issues. “Statewide votes very often are won and lost in St. Louis County ... Jump to full article >>

An Ontario man is facing charges in Manitoba after he was found to be transporting contraband cigarettes. The man was arrested Monday afternoon when he was stopped by a police officer for an equipment violation on his van, RCMP said. The officer was patrolling the Trans-Canada Highway near Angle Road in Portage la Prairie at around 1:30 p.m. when he noticed the van was missing the rear bumper and a tie down strap was hanging out the back. When h ... Jump to full article >>

On Nov. 19, many people will throw away their cigarettes in honor of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. Jason Halford, 29, of Joliet probably will not be one of them. In the nine years since he started smoking, Halford has quit twice, but he blames job and money-related stresses for lighting back up. Even the rising cost of cigarettes isn’t enough to discourage him. “I buy cheap brands and look for dollar-of ... Jump to full article >>

Coronation Street’s head honcho has defended the soap for having characters who smoke. Executive producer Kieran Roberts told Radio Times: “While we have a duty not to glamorise the habit, it would be realistic to see nobody smoking – but only a few regulars do.” He added that the smoking ban in 2007 means characters such as Deidre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) tend to smoke outdoors now, for example in the back yard of the Ro ... Jump to full article >>

On Nov. 19, many people will throw away their cigarettes in honor of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. Jason Halford, 29, of Joliet probably will not be one of them. In the nine years since he started smoking, Halford has quit twice, but he blames job and money-related stresses for lighting back up. Even the rising cost of cigarettes isn’t enough to discourage him. “I buy cheap brands and look for dollar-of ... Jump to full article >>

Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) — A deadline for lawsuits seeking to recoup smokers’ health-care costs from a Japan Tobacco Inc. unit that had been sought by British Columbia, Ontario and New Brunswick was rejected by a judge for coming prematurely. The Canadian provinces want their claims for treating people with smoking-related illnesses included among those of creditors for Japan Tobacco’s insolvent JTI-MacDonald unit. The provinces said they fe ... Jump to full article >>

St. Louis County voters on Tuesday simultaneously made most public places there and in the city smoke-free. With light turnout — about 20 percent of the county’s 705,000 registered voters — about two-thirds of them favored Proposition N, which, with some exemptions, bans smoking in public places on Jan. 2, 2011. The ban applies to the city also because the Board of Aldermen last month approved a similar measure, contingent on county pa ... Jump to full article >>

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WSAZ) — If you want to smoke in Prestonsburg, you’ll have to do it outside or at home. Monday was the first business day since the smoking ban started. Most supporters say it is a health issue, but others say their rights are being violated. Harold Burchell smoked for 18 years. He gave up the habit, and is glad Prestonsburg restaurants are now smoke-free. “I do believe people have a right to smoke, that woul ... Jump to full article >>

Portage la Prairie RCMP seized some contraband cigarettes on Monday. At about 1:30 a.m., a Portage RCMP member was patrolling the Trans-Canada Highway near Angle Road in Portage when a 1996 Ford Windstar van from British Columbia was observed traveling westbound. RCMP noted the vehicle was missing the rear bumper and a tie-down strap was hanging out the back of the van. The vehicle was stopped for the equipment violation when police were able to ... Jump to full article >>